Callum Jones

A jury has cleared a 59-year-old man who was accused of indecently assaulting a woman in a churchyard in Northampton 20 years ago.

David Townsend, of Windmill Avenue, Blisworth, had faced four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault related to an alleged attack on a woman in St Giles Churchyard in the early hours of March 1, 1996.

However, a jury today (Thursday) returned not guilty verdicts in all charges in the case.

Sarah Gaunt, prosecuting, told the jury at the start of the trial that Townsend had been arrested in 2013 after his DNA matched a sample of semen taken from clothing belonging to the alleged victim.

Townsend told investigating officers that he had enjoyed a sexual encounter with a woman at the time of the alleged incident and said it had been entirely consensual.